Springfield, Ohio – Madeline Petee ’15 has always aspired to work in the medical field, but it wasn’t until this summer that the biology major from Perrysburg, Ohio, was able to blend her love for science and public health. Working in Washington, D.C., Petee held an internship with Strategic Healthcare, one of the premier healthcare lobbying firms in the country.
“Wittenberg professors provide individualized attention to students and help them to find their passion in this world,” said Petee, who hopes to become a Doctor of Nursing Practice, concentrating in pediatric and adolescent medicine. “Going to a small liberal arts school like Wittenberg University prepared me for this internship experience and set me apart from students from other universities.”
Throughout the summer, Petee worked primarily with the Huntington’s Disease Society of America, ProMedica Health System and the Nursing Schools Coalition, writing daily briefs on the status of legislation and policies that would directly impact each organization. She credits her co-curricular activities and leadership development opportunities for preparing her to take on such responsibilities.
“Wittenberg allows each student to take on leadership positions from the moment they step foot on campus. When I was a freshman, I took part in the emerging leaders program, and I have taken the leadership skills I learned in that program to take on many different leadership positions on campus,” Petee said. “When Strategic Health Care saw the leadership positions that I had already taken on back at school, I was given more leadership responsibilities among my peer interns, allowing me to participate in some key projects and meet with a wide variety of government officials.”
Petee also attended congressional hearings on Capitol Hill and provided legislative overview for her clients, met with United States Representatives and Senators to lobby on behalf of her clients, and attended healthcare summits hosted by international and domestic health officials.
“I was able to take the experience that I’ve gained in my biology classes and previous clinical internships and transition into a policy atmosphere, drawing on my liberal arts education every step of the way,” Petee explained. “From my English classes that helped me craft my writing style and communication skills to my WittSem, which helped me look at disease and public health issues from a wide variety of perspectives, I was so well prepared for this internship because of the amazing skills and confidence that I have gained during my time at Wittenberg.”
